Making a Difference One Plate at a Time
Every week, nearly two dozen St. Lawrence students come together to prep, cook, deliver, and serve food to local community members in need.
These volunteers are part of one of the University’s most unique and impactful student organizations, Campus Kitchens, whose mission is twofold: reduce food insecurity as well as food waste on campus and in the greater Canton community.
“There’s a lot of food insecurity in the area, so our meals help a bunch of people in need, but we also serve people who just like to come and talk–like elderly folks seeking community,” says Campus Kitchens Co-president Sally Eggers ’25.
Eggers, an environmental studies and sociology double-major, says it’s rewarding to have the opportunity to meet and connect with local community members, and to see the material impact made by the club.
“It’s been meaningful to help give back to the community that gives so much to us here at St. Lawrence. Because of Campus Kitchens, there are people I would otherwise have never met, who I now know by name, and vice-versa,” she says.
As per its mission, the club is given a budget from St. Lawrence’s student government, the Thelomathesian Society, with which to shop for food, but receives much of its supplies from fundraising and donations. Dining Services on campus contributes a lot, as does the local Methodist Church, which receives food donated from the local Aldi. Campus Kitchens also operates a pantry for student and staff donations.
The executive board meets weekly to plan a menu based on what they have available. Sometimes it’s fettucine alfredo with chicken and broccoli, other times it’s fajitas, or even “breakfast for dinner” with pancakes and bacon.
The students prepare around 80 meals every Monday to be served at the local Unitarian Universalist Church at 5 p.m. Additional meals are delivered to local residents in need. On top of that, the club prepares “Bearpacks” every week that are distributed to three local schools and given to children who can benefit from nutritious snacks.
To accomplish all this, Campus Kitchens splits into different shifts, with some students doing prep work like cutting vegetables, while others help shop for, cook, deliver, or serve the meals.
Some of these students live in the Campus Kitchens theme house on campus, but the club is open to all students, and most members are simply volunteers who want to be part of an organization that helps people in need.
“I love to cook, but more so I love helping to combat food waste and seeing the community come together.”–Charlie Beams '25
“I love to cook, but more so I love helping to combat food waste and seeing the community come together,” says environmental science major and Campus Kitchens Co-president Charlie Beams ’25. He says Campus Kitchens is unique in the way it allows students to feel and see themselves making a tangible difference.
Neuroscience major Lexi Lee ’25 agrees.
“Because of our couple hours a week, people in need have more money in their pocket and less on their plate to worry about.”
Anyone interested in donating non-perishable food items to Campus Kitchens can reach out to club advisor Ashlee Downing-Duke at adowning@stlawu.edu.
